Below are answers to some frequently asked questions. Additional information is available in the free resource, "Get on Board: A guide for school board candidates." If you do not see your question here, feel free to contact us.
What are the requirements to become school board candidate?
You must be
- at least 18 years old;
- a U.S. citizen;
- both a resident of your school district and registered to vote in your school district for at least 30 days prior to the election.
When are school board elections?
The elections are held as part of the November general election in odd-numbered years. The 2025 election will be Nov. 4.
How do I file?
You can obtain an election packet from your county board of elections office that includes the necessary forms and petitions required to become a candidate. These forms can be downloaded from the Ohio secretary of state’s website.
Filing your petition
A candidate must file a petition to run for a seat on a board of education. This nominating petition must be filed with the county board of elections by 4 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2025, the 90th day before the November general election (RC 3513.254, 3513.255). If a school district is in more than one county, the petition is filed with the board of elections in the most populous county of the school district. For candidates for positions on the governing board of an educational service center (ESC) that is located in more than one county, the petition is filed with the board of elections in the county where the ESC’s central administrative offices are located. As of April 2025, the filing fees are $30.
Before you file, you must obtain valid signatures from registered voters residing in your district. The number of required signatures depends on the type and size of your district:
- City (population of less than 20,000): 25 signatures required
- City (population of 20,000-49,999): 75 signatures required
- City (population of 50,000-99,999): 150 signatures required
- City (population of 100,000 or more): 300 signatures required
- Local: 25 signatures required
- Exempted village: 25 signatures required
- Educational service center: 50 signatures required
Download OSBA's Get on Board Ohio: A Guide for 2025 School Board Candidates for more information on becoming a candidate for a board of education or governing board.
How can I receive training?
The Ohio School Boards Association is hosting a free webinar on becoming a candidate for a school board on Aug. 9. You can register for the live webinar or view it on-demand beginning Aug. 15.
Candidates also can explore the many resources available at www.ohioschoolboards.org. As an official candidate, you have the same access to OSBA staff as our member boards via email or phone at (614) 540-4000 or (800) 589-OSBA for general questions. View staff contact information, or call the legal hotline, (855) 672-2529, for general legal information.
How much time is required?
School board work is a public service commitment. At times the commitment is significant, and the work will be both personally and publicly difficult. School boards are required by law to meet publicly at least every other month; however, most boards meet publicly at least once a month. Board members should be prepared to read a great deal to stay abreast of the many changes in educational philosophy, legislative actions and legal requirements of public school operation. For the individual that has a heart for public service, school board work is tremendously rewarding.
What do I need to know before I start campaigning?
After filing your petition, it’s time to begin gathering support. Candidates for boards of education run their campaigns in a variety of ways. Some campaigns are conducted primarily by word-of-mouth. Others are largescale campaigns, with many signs, appearances and fundraisers. Each candidate decides how to structure their campaign. Candidates who want to receive campaign contributions and/or make campaign expenditures are required to form a campaign committee and must track all campaign contributions and expenditures. A candidate’s ability to solicit contributions and spend campaign funds is heavily regulated by state law.
Finally, it’s important to note that most candidates for boards of education are required to periodically file an itemized statement of campaign contributions and expenditures with their county board of elections. Candidates for a board of education of a school district or ESC having a total student enrollment of 12,000 or more must also file a financial disclosure statement with the Ohio Ethics Commission (OEC).
Visit the Resources webpage to view videos on filing your nominating petition and structuring campaign committees.
Download Get on Board: 2025 OSBA Resources for Candidates for more information on structuring your candidate campaign and campaign finances.
Compatibility of the office
A candidate who is already serving as a public employee or in another elected position should check to make sure that the two positions are compatible, which means that, if elected, the person can serve in both positions at the same time. More information on the compatibility of positions is available from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Questions about compatibility of public offices or positions should be discussed with the board of education’s legal counsel, legal counsel for the public agency the candidate already serves or the candidate’s private attorney.
Are there any conflicts of interest of which I should be aware?
There are conflicts of interest restrictions all board members must comply with to avoid breaking the law or jeopardizing their reputation or that of the school district. Those restrictions are included in Title 33 of the Ohio Revised Code, which governs the operations of schools, and in criminal statutes enforced by the Ohio Ethics Commission (OEC). If you are a public employee or officeholder, a position on a board of education may be incompatible with your current position. Before seeking election, potential candidates should make certain they are eligible to serve. For a review of the applicable laws in this area, please see OEC’s conflict of interest document.
What is a write-in candidate, and do I have to file to be a write-in candidate?
Citizens in the school district may file as write-in candidates for open seats on boards of education. This may be an appealing option for a citizen if, after candidate filing deadline has passed, the board of education has more open seats than potential candidates. A write-in candidate is someone whose name does not appear on the ballot, but whose name must be written on the ballot by voters. Only the names of those write-in candidates who have filed a valid declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate will be counted.
After the initial candidate filing deadline, any person wanting to be a write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate by 4 p.m. on the 72nd day prior to the election. A write-in candidate must meet all of the qualifications of the office being sought. In order to run for the board of education, you must be at least 18 years old and both a resident in the school district and registered to vote in the district for 30 days before the election. Learn more about becoming a write-in candidate.